9 November 1919:Kure. NAGATO is launched by the Minister of the Navy,
Admiral (later Fleet Admiral/Baron/Prime Minister) Kato Tomosaburo. The ceremony
is also attended by Vice Admiral, Prince (later Fleet Admiral) Fushimi Hiroyasu
of the Naval General Staff. NAGATO is assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.

1922: A smoke deflector is fitted to fore funnel to keep the bridge
clear of funnel smoke at high speeds. A captive balloon is embarked on the
fantail.

18 February 1922: Etauchi Bay, Inland Sea. Former Marshal of France
Joseph Joffre boards NAGATO during his visit to Japan to return from Etajima
Island to Miyajima.

12 April 1922: Yokohama. Edward VIII, Prince of Wales (later Duke of
Windsor) arrives aboard battlecruiser HMS RENOWN on a state visit to Japan.
RENOWN is moored near NAGATO.

Early in the morning, NAGATO and all remaining vessels of the First Fleet
anchored at Yokohama hoist the White Ensigns. A 21-gun salute is fired from
76-mm/40 AA guns. The Prince of Wales and his ADC, (Lt later Admiral of the
Fleet) Lord Louis Mountbatten visit MUTSU and NAGATO, both flying royal
pennants. The guests inspect NAGATO’s machinery spaces and have a dinner in the
staff mess room, followed by degustation of several boxes of specially imported
Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskey.

6 February 1922: The Washington Treaty:Washington, DC. Japan, United
States, Britain, France and Italy agree to limit the displacement and main
armament of their capital ships, aircraft carriers and cruisers and to limit the
total tonnage and age of their capital ships and carriers. Battleships and
aircraft carriers are set at a ratio of 5:5:3 for the navies of Great Britain,
the United States and Japan. Japan's Plenipotentiary at the conference is her
Minister of the Navy, Admiral, the Baron, Kato Tomosaburo.

28 August 1922: BatDiv 1 (NAGATO, MUTSU, KONGO, HIEI, KIRISHIMA and
ISE) depart Kure for a flag-showing mission, combined with maneuvers, off the
Siberian coast, preceding the withdrawal of Japanese troops.

1 September 1923:Changshan archipelago, Korea Bay. A 1500, while
preparing for post-maneuvers inspection, a radio message is received by NAGATO
about the Great Kanto Earthquake, one of the worst earthquakes in history, that
hit the Kanto plain destroying Tokyo, Yokohama and the surroundings. About
140,000 people are killed by the earthquake and the fires caused by it.

2 September 1923: The battleships of the First Fleet depart Changshan
for Kyushu.

3 September 1923: In the afternoon, the fleet steaming at 20 knots
enters a typhoon area. The starboard casemate battery on NAGATO is swamped and a
dangerous list appears.

4 September 1923: NAGATO and MUTSU arrive at Uchinoura Bay, Kyushu,
to embark food, provisions and medical supplies. Both battleships depart on that
same day. Enroute to Yokosuka, a foreign cruiser (possibly armored cruiser USS
HURON (CA-9) is briefly sighted.

January 1924:
Yokosuka. NAGATO enters dock. NAGATO, out of drydock for nine months, has acquired very heavy marine growth. IJN policy is to dock a ship every 10 months, clean the hull’s sides and bottom and repaint with anticorrosive and anti fouling paint. U. S. Naval Intelligence learns the maximum elevation of NAGATO and MUTSU’s main guns is 25 degrees. She has one 10-meter range finder on her foretop. The power of NAGATO’s radio is 5 kilowatts and 25 kilowatts using undamped wave.

30 March 1924:Amami O-Shima, 8 miles NW of Sotsu-Takasaki. During
towing exercises, Captain Sakonji misjudges the drift of his vessel, so that it
grazes MUTSU. Thanks to last-minute maneuvers undertaken by both battleships
there are no casualties, but NAGATO looses one of her anchors and her hull
plating receives minor damage.

August 1924: Saeki Bight. During the maneuvers NAGATO is hit by an
exercise torpedo from the submarine SS-62 (later renamed RO-28). The explosion
of the ruptured air flask damages one of NAGATO’s propeller blades.

Late 1924 to March 1925: Kure. The top of the fore funnel is swept
back.

6-7 September 1924: S of Nojima Island. Participates in the sinking
of the battleship AKI with MUTSU.

August 1925: German aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel and several
German engineers arrive at Yokohama to present a custom-built take-off platform
NAGATO. They also deliver the prototypes of Heinkel HD-25 (two-seat) and HD-26
(single-seat) floatplanes built for the use from NAGATO. After the plaftorm is
mounted atop the No. 2 main turret, several launch tests are carried out in Boso
Bight, off Tateyama, using HD-25 and Yokosho Ro-Go floatplanes. During the tests
the HD-25 is piloted by Carl Clemens Bücker, another future aircraft
manufacturer. The take-off platform is later removed and a modified version is
used on FURUTAKA class heavy cruisers.

1 August 1927: Tokiwa Mine Explosion Incident:Saeki Bay, Kyushu. At
0939, while a staff conference is being held aboard NAGATO, a number of No.
5 mines explode on minelayer TOKIWA (former armored cruiser), anchored nearby.
NAGATO and several other vessels send over their firefighting teams to quell the
raging fires. [1]

22 April 1930: The London Treaty:London. The Treaty for the
Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament is signed by Japan, Great Britain and
the United States. It is an extension of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922.
The signatories agree not to build new capital ships until 1937. A number of
existing capital ships are to be scrapped.

25 February 1933:Geneva, Switzerland. Japan withdraws from the League
of Nations and decides she will no longer abide by restrictions such as the
Washington of 1922 and the London Treaty of 1930 that impose limitations on the
number and size of her warships.

16-21 August 1933: Special Great Maneuvers:Departs Tateyama as the
flagship of the Red Fleet to operate N of Marshall Islands, then returns to
Kisarazu Bight.

1 April 1934: First Modernization :Kure Navy Yard. NAGATO’s hull is
lengthened aft, anti-torpedo bulges are added and all torpedo tubes removed. A
clipper bow is retrofitted. Additional horizontal armor is fitted over the
magazines and machinery spaces. An armor strake is fitted to hull bottom in the
vicinity of the turn of the bulges.

New main caliber turrets taken from unfinished battleships KAGA and TOSA
are installed. Her 16-inch (406-mm) guns' elevation is increased to 43 degrees,
increasing their maximum range to 41, 448 yards or 23.5 miles. Additional armor
is fitted to turret faces, sides and tops. The barbette armor is likewise
strengthened. The secondary battery 5.5-inch (140-mm) guns' elevation is
increased to 35 degrees. Two upper deck secondary caliber guns are landed.

The NAGATO’s forward funnel is removed. All of her 20 original steam
boilers are removed and replaced with four large Kampon oil-fired boilers in
addition to six rebuilt small boilers. As a result of increase in displacement,
the NAGATO’s maximum speed drops to 25 knots. Three Nakajima E4N2 floatplanes
are embarked.

31 January 1936: Kure. NAGATO’s modernization is completed. Her
standard displacement is now 39,130-tons.

26 February 1936: 1,400 young Army officers launch a coup d’etat in
Tokyo, storming the Diet and several other key buildings. For the next few days
the better part of the capital remains under rebel control. As a part of efforts
to quell the riot, the NAGATO is directed into Tokyo Bay. She berths at Odaiba
pier, Shinagawa, training her main battery guns at the Diet building. An ad hoc
Rikusentai landing force is formed of the junior sailors.

7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The First "China") Incident:
Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops are on night maneuvers at the bridge. They
fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. At
morning roll call, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the
Chinese captured him. The Japanese demand entry to Beijing to look for the
soldier. The Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared war
on China begins.

23 August 1937:Off Saddle Islands. The soldiers are transferred to
light cruisers and destroyers. During the operation, NAGATO collides with light
cruiser OI. The damage is minor. 25 August 1937:Returns to Sasebo.

Upon completion of the exercises, NAGATO and AKAGI steam to Tokyo Bay, then drop anchor in the Tsurumi Sea. The IJN’s Meguro Tokyo research laboratory, in co-operation with the Japanese Wireless Company, conduct a test of a trial radar apparatus. The radio wave transmitting device is positioned on the roof of the Toshiba factory and the receiver was located separately on a wharf. The target is AKAGI, her vast rectangular appearance made her perfect for the job. The experiments are judged successful. [2]

11 October 1940: Imperial Naval Review:Yokohama Bay. An Imperial
review is held in celebration of the 2, 600th anniversary of the Emperor Jimmu's
enthronement. Ninety-eight of the Combined Fleet's warships led by its flagship,
NAGATO, are spread across the bay ready for inspection. NAGATO's entire crew
mans the sides of their ship. Emperor Hirohito and the fleet's
Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku
(former CO of AKAGI) pass by the fleet's ships aboard battleship HIEI
escorted by the cruisers TAKAO, KAKO and FURUTAKA.

Spring 1941:Koumi Basin, Yokosuka. NAGATO undergoes her last pre-war
refit. Her main caliber gun barrels are exchanged and an external degaussing
coil is fitted. Her anti-torpedo bulges are filled with crushing tubes.

11 August 1941:Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Yano Hideo
(former CO of MYOKO) is posted as the Commanding Officer. NAGATO is assigned
to the Combined Fleet's BatDiv 1 with her sister-ship, MUTSU at Hashirajima in
Hiroshima Bay.

19 November 1941:Yamamoto returns to Hashirajima aboard NAGATO. AKAGI
departs Saeki for the Kuriles to join the Carrier Strike Force.

2 December 1941: At 1730, NAGATO sends the coded signal No. 676:
"Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" to the Carrier Strike Force, then
940 miles north of Midway Island. The signal means that hostilities will
commence on 8 December (Japan time).[3]

21 December 1941:New battleship YAMATO arrives at Hashirajima from Kure
and joins BatDiv 1 with NAGATO and MUTSU.

20 January 1942: Proceeds to Kure. Loads material.

24 January 1942: Returns to Hashirajima

12 February 1942: At Hashirajima. The Combined Fleet's flag is
transferred from NAGATO to YAMATO. During February through May, BatDiv 1
conducts training and gunnery practice in the Inland Sea area. Minor repairs are
carried out at Kure.

Late February 1942: NAGATO serves as the floating
HQ for Prince Takamatsu and his staff.

5 May 1942:BatDiv 1's NAGATO and MUTSU depart Hashirajima for gunnery
practice in the Iyo Nada with BatDiv 2. HYUGA's No. 5 turret gun blows up.
She departs for Kure with FUSO as escort. NAGATO and the other battleships
return to Hashirajima.

11 May 1942:BatDiv 1 departs Hashirajima for
gunnery and AA practice in the Iyo Nada. Returns that night.

5-6 June 1942:After the Main Body joins up with retiring Striking Force,
NAGATO takes aboard the survivors from carrier KAGA picked up earlier by DesRon
10's destroyers. Refuels from oiler TOEI MARU. Later refuels DesRons 3, 10 at
sea.

14 June 1942: The Main Body returns to Hashirajima.

3 July 1942:Proceeds to Tokuyama in a practice sortie.

6 July 1942: Returns to Hashirajima.

13 July 1942: Proceeds to Kure. Maintenance and refueling.

14 July 1942:At Hashirajima. The First Fleet is reorganized. NAGATO and
MUTSU are transferred from the Combined Fleet's BatDiv 1 to Vice Admiral Shimizu
Mitsumi's (former CO of ISE) First Fleet in BatDiv 2 with YAMASHIRO, FUSO, ISE
and HYUGA. NAGATO becomes flagship of the First Fleet. BatDiv 2 performs
'standby alert' and training missions.

18 July 1942: At Kure. Dry-docked.

22 July 1942: Undocked.

1 September 1942:Poceeds to Kure. Maintenance work. Loads material.

5 September 1942:Returns to Hashirajima.

6 October 1942: Arrives at Kure. Fuels and maintenance work.

13 October 1942:Proceeds to Hashirajima.

1 November 1942:Captain Yano is promoted to Rear Admiral.

10 November 1942:Captain Hisamune Yonejiro (former CO of AOBA) assumes
command. Captain Yano is promoted to Rear Admiral and reassigned to the Naval
General Staff's Third Bureau (Intelligence).

29 November 1942:Proceeds to Tokuyama in an exercise sortie.

1 December 1942:Proceeds to Murotsu in an exercise sortie.

3 December 1942:Returns to Hashirajima.

December 1942:In the western Inland Sea. In air training exercises with
MUSASHI, FUSO and YAMASHIRO and carrier ZUIKAKU.

31 May 1943:Kure. Drydocked at No. 4 drydock. A Type 21 radar set and two
25-mm AA guns (twin mount) are fitted.

6 June 1943: Undocked.

8 June 1943:Departs Kure for Hashirajima. MUTSU, at anchor, explodes
suddenly and sinks at Hashirajima.

25 June 1943:Iyo Nada. After an accident investigation, the loss of MUTSU
is blamed on a disgruntled seaman who had brooded over theft charges. The fleet
resumes normal activities. NAGATO conducts a towing exercise by destroyers
TAMANAMI and WAKATSUKI in which NAGATO simulates that her rudder is jammed over
at 35 degrees.

20 August 1943:The task group encounters a Typhoon, but safely escapes the area and continues south.

23 August 1943:Task group arrives at Truk. NAGATO assumes standby alert and participates in battle exercises. MUTSU's survivors are sent ashore. The 958 Naval Aeronautical Squadron is later transported to Rabaul aboard cruiser TAKAO.

10 June 1944: Operation "KON" - The Relief of Biak:
Vice Admiral Ugaki's KON task group detaches from the fleet with Bat Div 1’s YAMATO and MUSASHI, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and destroyers OKINAMI and SHIMAKAZE. The KON task group departs Tawi Tawi for Batjan.
13 June 1944: Operation "A-GO" - The Battle of the Philippine Sea:
In Tokyo, the CINC, Combined Fleet, Admiral Toyoda Soemu, (former CO of HYUGA), sends out a signal that activates the A-GO plan for the Defense of the Marianas.

19 June 1944: At 1030, Ozawa launches a strike against Task Force 58, but
his aircraft are unable to locate TF 58, so most return to Guam. Destroyer
HAYASHIMO provides close escort for NAGATO, who in turn protects carriers JUNYO,
HIYO and RYUHO.

20 June 1944:NAGATO fires at the attacking torpedo planes from her main
caliber guns, claiming two Grumman TBF "Avenger” torpedo planes from the USS
BELLEAU WOOD's (CVL-24) that are attacking JUNYO and forces the other planes to
retreat. NAGATO, stationed at JUNYO's starboard bow, is strafed during the
attack, but suffers no casualties.

At about 2030, HIYO explodes and sinks two hours after she is hit by
torpedoes by Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo planes from BELLEAU WOOD. NAGATO and
cruiser MOGAMI stand by as destroyers rescue most of HIYO's crew. That night,
NAGATO retires with the Mobile Fleet to Nakagusuku Wan (Bay), Okinawa.

NAGATO is also fitted with Type 2 infrared (IR) Identification Friend-or-Foe
(IFF)/signaling device mounted midway up on each side of the bridge. They are
built around a telescopic sensor that receives light-waves in the IR range and
registers a readout in the radio shack. The system also includes a pair of
20-mm. binoculars coaxially mounted with the transmitting IR lamp on the bridge
so that another ship can use the IR detector for elementary signaling or as a
formation light for station keeping.

All portholes located below the upper deck are covered over. NAGATO is
also loaded with materials for transport.

23 October 1944: The
Battle of the Palawan Passage: Force "A" is attacked by two American
submarines. DARTER (SS-227) sinks cruiser ATAGO. DARTER also damages cruiser
TAKAO. DACE (SS-247) sinks cruiser MAYA. NAGATO is not damaged.

24 October 1944: The
Battle of the Sibuyan Sea:1015: A B-24 "Liberator" bomber is sighted
to port, bearing 130. An air alert is ordered and speed is increased to 22
knots. The B-24 does not attack and disappears.

1016: A large group of
incoming aircraft is sighted to starboard, bearing 85, range 19 miles.

1027: NAGATO opens fire with her main guns firing "sanshikidans".

1029: Four "Helldivers" score two near hits on starboard bow.

1047: The last planes of the first wave disappear on the horizon. End of
the air alert.

1204: Thirty-one planes of the second wave are sighted to starboard,
bearing 88, range nine miles. An air alert is ordered and NAGATO opens fire with
"sanshikidan" rounds.

1208: A Helldiver drops a 1000-lb AP bomb on NAGATO, but it misses.

1218: The air alert is cancelled. The fleet's speed is reduced to 16
knots to conserve fuel and the course is changed to due east.

1321: A large group of aircraft from USS ESSEX (CV-9) is sighted, bearing
255, range 22 miles. The fleet commences a sharp turn to starboard to evade
detection.

NAGATO is hit by two bombs and suffers three near misses. The first bomb
explodes on the boat deck, damages the air intake of No. 1 boiler room, wrecks
casemate guns Nos. 2, 4, disables three more guns and jams 127-mm AA gun No. 2.
Due to the damage to the boiler room's air intake, it is shut down and causes
one propeller shaft to stop. NAGATO's speed drops to 22 knots until 1440 when
the boiler is put back on.

1426: Four Hellcats drop four 500-lb GP bombs and score three near hits
in the starboard bow area causing splinter damage.

1456: End of the air alert.

1503: Nine dive-bombers, seven torpedo planes
and five fighters are sighted to port bearing 130, range 17 miles. A new air
alert is ordered.

1516: The air alert is cancelled. During the day' Force A has endured
raids by over 250 U.S. carrier aircraft. MUSASHI, hit by numerous torpedoes and
bombs, sinks in the Visayan Sea. YAMATO takes direct hits by bombs. HARUNA is
damaged by five near -misses. Force A reverses course back through Sibuyan Sea.

1530: Force A reverses course back through Sibuyan Sea.

1534: End of air alert.

1714: Admiral Kurita again orders the fleet to reverse course.

2330: Force A enters San Bernadino Strait hours in single file.

25 October 1944: The
Battle off Samar:0035: Force A exits San Bernardino Strait and
proceeds towards Leyte Gulf.

0548: Four planes are sighted to port, bearing
59, range 11 miles. An air alert is ordered. NAGATO opens fire at the aircraft.

0601: NAGATO fires four salvos through a squall at three enemy carriers
that are barely visible to port, bearing 63, range 20 miles. This is the first
time in her career that NAGATO has fired on enemy ships. (She acts with YAMATO
throughout the day's action). Her first two salvos fired are Type 3 AA shells.
The following salvos are fired with AP rounds. NAGATO may have achieved some
near misses on the starboard bow of escort carrier USS SAINT LO (CVE-63).
NAGATO's gunners report one carrier hit and smoking.

0641: Lookouts spot masts on the horizon.

0654: Destroyer HEERMANN fires three torpedoes at HARUNA. The torpedoes
miss HARUNA, but head toward YAMATO and NAGATO. YAMATO's crew spots their tracks
to starboard. YAMATO and NAGATO turn away to port and steam northward for 10
miles until the torpedoes run out of fuel.

0755-0910: Force A sinks GAMBIER BAY, HOEL, ROBERTS and JOHNSTON. NAGATO
aggressively tries to engage the American carriers, but Rear Admiral Kobe is
reprimanded by Vice Admiral Ugaki. He advises Kobe to follow in the wake of
YAMATO. During the morning's battle, NAGATO fires 45 rounds from her main
armament and ninety-two 140-mm. rounds claiming one cruiser as heavily damaged.
Kurita orders all ships to head north.

1656: Attacked by a group of dive-bombers. While making a sharp evasive
maneuver, four quarterdeck AA gunners are washed overboard. Destroyer AKISHIMO
is detached to pick them up but fails to locate any survivors.

2100: Force A retires through the San Bernardino Strait.

26 October 1944: 0800: Tablas Strait off Panay. Force A is attacked by
about 30 Grumman TBM Avengers from WASP (CV-19) and COWPENS (CVL-25).

1040:
The Force is attacked by about 30 Army Far Eastern Air Force B-24 "Liberators"
based at Morotai. Aboard YAMATO, bomb fragments wound Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Koyanagi Tomiji (former CO of KONGO), Chief of Staff, Second Fleet and
about 60 others. NAGATO and YAMATO open fire with their main armament using Type
3 'sanshikidan" shells. They claim several bombers shot down.

28 October 1944: The remnants of Force "A" arrive at Brunei and refuel.

6 November 1944:Carrier JUNYO and light cruiser KISO, escorted by DesDiv
30's YUZUKI and UZUKI arrive at Brunei from Sasebo with ammunition resupply for
Kurita's force.

8 November 1944: To avoid air raids, NAGATO sorties from Brunei to Pratas
Islands with YAMATO, HARUNA, KONGO, light cruiser YAHAGI and four destroyers.
JUNYO, cruisers TONE and ASHIGARA and two destroyers follow. ASHIGARA detaches
back to Brunei. JUNYO, TONE, KISO, DesDiv 30 detach to Manila. Near Pratas, the
remainder of YAMATO group turns around and returns to Brunei.

11 November 1944:YAMATO group arrives back at Brunei and refuels from
oiler HAKKO MARU.

15 November 1944:NAGATO is reassigned to BatDiv 3 in Second Fleet.

16 November 1944:At Brunei Bay. The fleet is attacked by 40 Army Air
Force B-24 bombers and 15 P-38 fighters.

17 November 1944: NAGATO departs for Kure with YAMATO, KONGO, light
cruiser YAHAGI and DesDiv 17's HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE, URAKAZE and YUKIKAZE. The
YAMATO group's escort is also joined by DesDiv 43's KIRI and UME from Spratly
Island.

NAGATO
serves as a floating AA battery. Her funnel and mainmast are removed to improve
her guns' arcs of fire. Moored alongside a pier at Yokosuka's Koumi Base, she is
camouflaged and protected by anti-torpedo nets.

20 December 1944:At Yokosuka. Captain Shibuya Kiyomi (former CO of CV
JUNYO) assumes command from Rear Admiral Kobe who is reassigned to the Naval
General Staff.

The former Vice Chief of the Naval
General Staff, Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Ito Seiichi (former CO of
HARUNA) assumes command of the Second Fleet. Vice Admiral Kurita is reassigned
as President of the Etajima Naval Academy.

1 January 1945:BatDiv 3 is disbanded. NAGATO is reassigned to reactivated
BatDiv 1 in Second Fleet.

10 February 1945:BatDiv 1 is deactivated once again. NAGATO is reassigned
to the Yokosuka Naval District as a coastal defense vessel. NAGATO's crew
continues to live aboard and she remains operative, although without adequate
fuel for getting underway (a coal-burning donkey boiler is installed for
furnishing steam to the galley, heating, etc.). NAGATO's AA battery, without
full power, is only partially operative.

20 April 1945: Reassigned as reserve ship due to lack of fuel.

27 April 1945:At Yokosuka. Rear Admiral Otsuka Miki, recalled from
retirement when the war began to skipper merchant ships, assumes command from
Captain Shibuya. As a LtCdr in the mid-1920s, Otsuka had served as NAGATO's
communications officer.

1 June 1945: ISE, HYUGA, NAGATO and HARUNA are assigned to the Special
(Coast) Guard Fleet.

All of NAGATO's remaining secondary, most AA guns and
one catapult are moved ashore. Her AA guns are installed on the top of the
nearby Urayama mountain. Her secondary guns protect Yokosuka's pier zone against
future landings. NAGATO's main guns point at the mouth of the Sagami Bay to fire
on any landing ships at point-blank range. NAGATO's rangefinders and all her
searchlights are moved ashore and installed on nearby Okusuyama mountain. NAGATO
is heavily camouflaged and her main gun turrets are covered with elaborate
scaffolding. Potted pines and cryptomerias are set on her upper decks. Her crew
is reduced to 1,000 men.

18 July 1945: At Yokosuka. After 1540 attacked by some hundred SB2C-4
"Helldiver” dive-bombers from TF 58’s USS ESSEX (CV-9), RANDOLPH (CV-15) and
SHANGRI-LA (CV-38), followed by F6F-5 "Hellcat” fighter-bombers from BELLEAU
WOOD (CVL-24). Some of NAGATO's former AA guns fire from nearby Urayama. Her
main guns do not fire.

At 1552 a 500 or 1000-lb GP bomb hits the bridge and
demolishes the wheelhouse. Rear Admiral Otsuka, XO Captain Higuchi Teiji (former
gunnery officer of KIRISHIMA) and eleven more officers are killed. Cdr Okuda
Takeshi, 8th Division Officer assumes temporary command of the ship. Another
500-lb GP bomb hits the shelter deck aft of the mainmast on the port side and
explodes against the base of No. 3 main caliber turret barbette. Its blast kills
some 25 men in nearby officers’ wardroom and destroys four 25-mm mounts on the
upper deck. One 11.75-in "Tiny Tom” rocket (dud) hits NAGATO’s fantail, exiting
from the starboard side. After this attack, all her remaining AA armament is
moved ashore.

Rear Admiral Otsuka is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously.

24 July 1945: Captain Sugino Shuichi (former CO of CVE TAIYO) is assigned
as CO, but at this time Sugino is at Port Arthur, Manchukuo.

A party of men from Task Force
31's ships board and secure NAGATO anchored in Yokosuka. The "capture" of NAGATO
symbolizes the unconditional surrender of the IJN.

2 September 1945:The official surrender of the Japanese Empire is held
aboard MISSOURI. The ceremonies are presided over by the Supreme Commander
Allied Powers, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Fleet Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz, CINCPOA, signs the surrender document on behalf of the United
States.

Other Allied battleships present in Tokyo Bay include Admiral Nimitz'
flagship USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), the Pearl Harbor veteran WEST VIRGINIA
(BB-48) and old battleships NEW MEXICO (BB-40), MISSISSIPPI (BB-41), IDAHO
(BB-42), COLORADO (BB-45). HMS KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, sisters of PRINCE
OF WALES, sunk off Malaya on 10 December 1941, are also in attendance.

15 September 1945:Removed from the Navy List.

30 December 1945:At Yokosuka. USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) anchors a few
hundred yards off NAGATO.

1-14 March 1946: NAGATO makes three test runs
in Tokyo Bay.

18 March 1946:NAGATO departs Yokosuka for Eniwetok under the command of
Captain W. J. Whipple with a US Navy crew of about 180 men. She is accompanied
by relatively new (1944) light cruiser SAKAWA, also under an American crew. Only
two of NAGATO's four screws are in operation and her best speed is but 10 knots.

26 March 1946:NAGATO's hull proves unseaworthy because damage resulting
from near misses received during the air raid on 18 July was never repaired by
the Japanese, nor the Americans. Her pumps cannot keep up with the intake of
seawater. NAGATO ships about 150 tons of seawater in the forward compartments.
The stern compartments have to be counter-flooded with 260 tons of water to
maintain the balance.

28 March 1946:The SAKAWA breaks down and goes dead in the water. NAGATO
sets a tow-line to SAKAWA, but then NAGATO blows out a boiler, and runs out of
fuel. Both ships are stopped in bad weather. NAGATO's crew radioes to Eniwetok
for help.

30 March 1946:Two USN tugboats arrive from Eniwetok. NAGATO is taken in
tow by USS CLAMP (ARS-33). Without power or pumps NAGATO takes on more water and
a seven degree list to port. NAGATO is towed at 1 knot.

4 April 1946:Arrives at Eniwetok where the flooded compartments are
pumped out. Undergoes repairs to hull and machinery.

May 1946:Steams at 13 knots for 200 miles to Bikini Atoll.

1 July 1946: Operation Crossroads:At Bikini. NAGATO and SAKAWA are target
ships in the atomic bomb air burst detonation test "Able"organized by the USAAF
. NAGATO is joined by the American target battleships ARKANSAS (BB-33), NEW YORK
(BB-34), NEVADA (BB-36), PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38) and other ships. NAGATO is moored
400 yards to the starboard of NEVADA, the target ship for the test. The bomb
misses NEVADA. NAGATO, 1,640 yards from Ground Zero, sustains only moderate
damage - wrinkled superstructure plating, non-watertight doors blown off and
overall paint scorching, but SAKAWA capsizes and sinks the next day.